Please tell me what Reds General Manager Dick Williams brings to the party?! Is he really the one for evaluating Reds talent? Other than being daddy's son and an investment banker, has he ever played the game at any level? I would wager he was always last picked for any sports contest and, probably, the first injured. What a disaster he's been in this role!Gary Clemens, Fairport, N.Y. (formerly, a 17-year Cincinnati resident)

Support MEMI proposal for The Banks music venue

In 1999 I was asked by the mayor and the county commissioners to head up a group called the Riverfront Advisors. This group was to strategize, work with consultants and plan the space between the two stadiums. Our group developed a master plan, created a backstory and named the space The Banks. We then formed the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority to assist in executing the plan.

About the same time, I was asked to join with half a dozen other community leaders to form 3CDC. So my interest in and knowledge of The Banks evolution runs deep. We should all be proud of what has been accomplished and I am honored to have played a part. I write in support of the Music and Event Management Inc. proposal for a performance venue on The Banks for a variety of reasons. (1) It fills a performance niche that is currently not available in Cincinnati, (2) it minimizes the footprint on Smale Riverfront park allowing The Banks to be enjoyed by those who just want to relax in one of the most beautiful riverfront parks in America, (3) it provides year-round venues, some indoor and some outdoor, (4) it will be operated by MEMI, one of the most successful event producers in the mid-West, and (5) as Bob Castellini pointed out in Thursday’s Enquirer, it will be operated by a home-town team.

Proceeds will also support Cincinnati’s vibrant arts scene. Programming entertainment venues is about much more than booking acts. To be successful operating a venue that is synergistic with the surrounding environment (Great American Ball Park, Paul Brown Stadium, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, restaurants and bars) requires a deep understanding of and integration with the community MEMI, which manages Riverbend, PNC Pavillion, the Taft Theater and more, has successfully been doing just that for more than 25 years. For the benefit of all Cincinnatians, I hope that the City and the County will come together and support the MEMI proposal, to create a special performance venue, “On the Banks of the Beautiful River.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: who inspired the name of the development.)

Jack Rouse, Cincinnati

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The Enquirer (May 4) brought two welcome messages of caring and kindness from women mourning the death of or damage to their children.

Valerie Bell displayed an almost unbelievable response to a terrible act when she told her son’s killer “I love you…and you take care.”

Uncalled for and inappropriate, some may say. But would anyone be better off if Bell had responded “I hate you…and hope you have a miserable life”?

Melissa Helton was concerned that her son had been bullied at school and recognized the pain that Elaine Roman was feeling when her son was bullied on a school bus. Helton stood outside the school with a sign that said: “Be Kind.” Because, obviously, if you are kind you will not bully another child.

These responses increased, by at least a little and maybe more, the amount of kindness in our hurting world. For that, we should all be grateful.

Connie Carroll Widmer, Westwood

Anderson mascot keeps them stuck in the past

The question of the Anderson High School team name and logo has been a contentious one, to say the least. But there is no escaping the fact that a community and school that wishes to move forward cannot and should not embrace a team name that is a racial slur. We see multiple examples of institutions moving away from using Native Americans as mascots, not to mention the offensive name.

The name will change one day. The only question is whether Anderson will be forced to change it via legislation, or if the school board will see that the only way to heal our community is to change the name and logo and do so in a way that gets the students involved. How wonderful it would be to see classes put together proposals for a new mascot (one they can actually enjoy; AHS has not had a mascot since their old one was declared offensive). Getting engaged with the community and working together to create the new message for Anderson High School would give students and teachers an opportunity to showcase our excellent schools. The group Alumni for Change already has a plan for professional graphic artists to help students turn their sketches into logos. The plan for progress is there, we just need to choose it.

If we keep this logo and name, we won’t be known for our excellent schools. The only thing we’ll be known for is being stuck in the past.

Barbara York, Anderson Township

Why not name them the Anderson 'Warriors'?
As a 40 year resident of Anderson Township, parent of an AHS graduate, and childhood fan of the Cleveland Indian. I have a suggestion.

The Indians name is acceptable whereas Chief Wahoo remains a hot issue. Here the AHS logo is cool whereas the redskins name is, and will remain, problematic. Why not keep the distinguished AHS logo and rename the team the Anderson Warriors. Has anyone encountered a challenge to the Golden State Warriors? I hope my beloved and progressive community can finally move on.Charley Ginn, Anderson Township

WRITING LETTERS OR OP-EDS: Letters of up to 200 words may be submitted by filling out the form at static.cincinnati.com/letter/ or emailing letters@enquirer.com. Include name, address, community and daytime phone number. Op-eds are submitted the same way except they should be 500-600 words and also include a one-sentence bio and headshot.